Isabel Bishop Early Sketchbook c. 1928 - 1936

Isabel Bishop made this early sketchbook page with a pen, maybe while riding on the subway, or sitting in a cafe. Look at how she’s used a flurry of quick, scratchy lines to capture the essence of figures in motion. It’s like she’s thinking on paper, each stroke a new attempt to grasp the fleeting reality of daily life. The physical act of drawing is so present here. You can almost feel the speed of her hand and the urgency of her gaze. I especially love the way she’s layered the lines, creating a sense of depth and movement. It’s not about perfect representation but about getting the feeling of a bustling city street down on paper. Her teacher, Kenneth Hayes Miller, would often say ‘Go to Union Square!’ – Bishop must have listened to his advice. The messy energy in these sketches reminds me of the early work of Joan Brown. Both artists were so good at capturing the chaos and beauty of everyday encounters. Art is just a conversation, isn’t it?